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Subject: [OHMEIGS] Rutland Freewill Baptist Church
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 10:14:52 EST

Meigs County research list:

Just in case you are still willing to listen to memories... My 4th great
uncle Eli STEDMAN was the first Freewill Baptist minister to visit Ohio and
was WELL known in Meigs County. He established the church at Rutland and was
the first pastor there. From reading the minutes of that pioneer group, I
know that my relative was not a saint. He fell out of favor with the church
for "carrying on" with a member of his congregation and neglecting his own
wife. Human nature hasn't changed a bit. Some of these old histories sound
like a modern day segment from "As the World Turns."

Here's the history of Rutland church so far I've collected:
The first church organized in Rutland was Freewill Baptist, by Rev. Eli
Steadman at the residence of Asa Stearns on 10 FEb 1810. Charter members were
Asa STEARNS, Luke BRINE, Rowland HUBBELL, Sophia STEARNS, Elizabeth BRINE,
Susanna LARKIN and Emaline LARKIN. Close of first year 40 members. Felix
BENEDICT carried the glass for the windows from Marietta, 50 miles, on
horseback, after riding that far with the produce from his farm to pay for it.

In 2000 we came to the list members research meeting in Meigs County and we
had a wonderful time walking on ground my ancestors used to plow. We found
where my 5th great grandfather Samuel BRANCH built his first cabin near
Chester in 1804 (thanks to Kay FICK who now owns that land with her husband).
They had torn down the cabin but they gave me three of the square nails they
saved from it. We found the first school in Meigs Co which was on BRANCH's
land and donated by them. It is now converted to a residence and was for
sale when we were there. I wish I could have bought it!

We also attended services in the Rutland church. They still had the long
hooked stick with a feather on the end, used to wake dozing congregation
members during my ancestor Eli STEDMAN's sermon's. Rev. Stedman may not have
been that boring, sermons in that day went on for hours and hours.

That visit will always be a wonderful memory.

Carolyn
Remember, you have a friend in Oklahoma!

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